Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Northern Illinois
Volleyballs Drops a Heartbreaker to NIU
10/7/2006 11:08:56 PM | Volleyball
Ashley Cudney records a career-best 50 digs to become the EMU all-time leader in digs
DEKALB, Ill. – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team fell behind early and nearly rallied to claim the match after trailing 2-0, but Northern Illinois was able to pull out the 3-2 decision Saturday night here at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies had an impressive early run winning 30-22 and 30-26, but the Eagles took the next two 30-24 and 30-23. In the finale, the Eagles took an early lead and had numerous chance to put away the Huskies, but NIU in the end prevailed with a 21-19 game five decision.
After trailing in the first game, NIU took over after a three-all score to win 30-22. Game two was filled with four ties and four lead changes as earned the Huskies the 30-26 victory.
Games three and four belonged to Eastern Michigan. The Eagles gained their first lead of game three at 8-7 and led by as many as six, 24-18. After a Northern Illinois timeout, the Huskies pulled within three at 26-23. But that would be all the closer they could get as the Eagles took the game by a 30-24 score. In the fourth game the two teams traded points until EMU used a 10-6 run to pull ahead 26-16. Eastern would never let up as the Green and White tied the match at 2-2 with the 30-23 decision.
In the finale, the Eagles took an early lead and led by as many as three, 10-7, before the Huskies responded take a 14-12 lead of their own. With the game-point looming, EMU battled to take a 16-15 lead of its own but each time host NIU was able to muster up a point of its own. In the end the Huskies prevailed with a 21-19 game five decision.
Statistically the Eagles and Huskies were on near-even ground as Northern Illinois hit .145 (75 kills, 40 errors, 242 attempts) and Eastern Michigan averaged .164 (66 kills, 29 errors, 226 attempts). Lindsay Piccolini led EMU in kills with 21, while Becky Reenders added 20.
Ashley Cudney led EMU defensively with a career-best 50 digs, breaking her previous high of 41 set last season at IPFW, Oct 18, 2005. With the 50 digs, also Cudney moved into first place in the EMU record books with 1,912 career digs surpassing Jennifer Nighswander's standard of 1,897.
Eastern Michigan returns to Ypsilanti to open a four-match homestand beginning Friday, Oct. 13, against Miami. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
